INTRODUCTION. Jxxii 



abating j ufl as much of that iri private as fuited their 

 humour and inclinations. I foon acquired a great f up- 

 port from theft at court ; jealoufy is not a paffion of the 

 AbyfTmians, who are in the contrary extreme, even to in- 

 difference. 



Besides the money I had with me, I had a credit of L.400 

 upon Youfef Cabil, governor of Jidda. I had another upon 

 a Turkifli merchant there. I had ftrong and general re- 

 commendations, if I mould want fupplies, upon Metical A^a, 

 firft miniller to the merriffe of Mecca. This, well managed, 

 was enough; but when I met my countrymen, the captains 

 of the Englifh mips from India, they added additional 

 ftrength to my finances ; they would have poured gold 

 upon me to facilitate a journey they fo much defired upon 

 feveral accounts. Captain Thornhill of the Bengal Mer- 

 chant, and Captain Thomas Price of the Lion, took the con- 

 duct of my money-affairs under their direction. Their Sa- 

 raf, or broker, had in his hands all the commerce that pro- 

 duced the revenues of Abyffinia, together with great part 

 of the correfpondence of the eaft ; and, by a lucky accident 

 for me, Captain Price ftaid all winter with the Lion at Jid- 

 da ; nay, fo kind and anxious was he as to fend over a fer- 

 vant from Jidda on purpofe, upon a report having been 

 raifed that I was flain by the ufurper Socinios, though it 

 was only one of my fervants, and the fervant of Poetical 

 Aga, who were murdered by that monfter, as is faid, with 

 his own hand. Twice he fetit over filver to me when I had 

 plenty of gold, and wanted that metal only to apply it in 

 furniture and workmanfhip. I do not pretend to fay but 

 fometimes thefe fupplies failed me, often by my negligence 

 Vol. I. K in 



